Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai was last night on his way to the US, promising to confront George Bush over the growing scandal about American abuse of Afghan prisoners.

Karzai's visit comes at a time of intense crisis in America's relations with the Muslim world after the release of pictures of Saddam Hussein in US detention and widespread abuse allegations against US troops from Guantánamo Bay to Kabul.

Karzai, who is a staunch ally of America and owes his presidency to America's defeat of the Taliban in 2001, began his trip by speaking out strongly against US soldiers accused of abusing prisoners in Afghanistan.

The allegations, first revealed in a New York Times story on Friday, detail horrific abuses carried out by US soldiers against Afghan suspects. They include harsh beatings and one incident where a prisoner was hung from the roof of his cell by his wrists. That prisoner, a 22-year-old taxi driver known as Dilawar, later died.

Karzai said he was shocked at the news of the abuse and the portrayal of brutal and poorly trained US soldiers seemingly acting without restraint. The newspaper's article was partly based on a 2,000-page military report on the incidents. 'It has shocked me thoroughly and we condemn it. We want the US government to take very, very strong action,' Karzai said.

However, both Afghan and US officials were trying to stay upbeat about the relationship between their two countries. Both sides insisted the recent scandals would not overshadow talks Karzai is scheduled to have with President Bush later this week.

Karzai is set to reaffirm his government's closeness to the White House and press for closer security ties. But at the same time he will ask America for the return of Afghan prisoners and ultimate control over US military operations.

Karzai is facing bitter criticism in Afghanistan for heavy-handed US military tactics. 'No operations inside Afghanistan should take place without the consultation of the Afghan government.

'They should not go to our people's homes any more without the knowledge of the Afghan government,' Karzai said.

That is unlikely. The US sees Afghanistan and the search for Osama bin Laden, who is believed to be in the border areas of Pakistan, as central to its self-proclaimed war on terror. In fact, America is keen to establish permanent military bases on Afghan soil, which could undermine Karzai's authority and be hugely unpopular with many Afghans.

However, Bush yesterday heaped praise on Afghanistan's post-Taliban government and said that America was working closely with Karzai to ensure that the country's fledgling democracy is a success.

'We're helping Afghanistan's elected government solidify these democratic gains and deliver real change. A nation that once knew only the terror of the Taliban is now seeing a rebirth of freedom, and we will help them succeed,' Bush said in his weekly radio address.

Bush said he would discuss Afghanistan's 'remarkable progress' with Karzai and added that he believed Islamic militants had been dealt a series of 'devastating blows' in recent encounters with American troops.

Bush did not mention the ongoing scandal of alleged abuse of the Koran by American soldiers in Guantánamo. Reports of that abuse led to a series of riots in Afghanistan that led to at least 15 deaths and attacks on foreign aid workers.